A big pot of Cal-USC stew here, with all sorts of commentary, analysis and information about the biggest game of the Bears’ season (unless they win, in which case next week become monumental) …

*** What the coaches think

Four Pac-10 coaches have faced both Cal and USC. I hopped on the league’s weekly conference call Tuesday and asked three of them to assess the game from a tactical standpoint.

I’m publishing their comments in full — some are interesting not for what they think about the matchup itself but for what they think about the teams, the coaches and the players, etc.

Oregon’s Mike Bellotti: “USC is the most talented team not just in this conference but one of the most talented teams in the nation. They have a dominant defense. Their offense has been inconsistent. At times, it can be extraordinary.